Rupert Lowe saves Zack Polanski from clean sweep of defeats as Restore costs Reform yet again

Zack Polanski is facing his “most challenging period as leader to date” after suffering a humiliating defeat in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election. Mr Polanski lost to Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali in Keir Starmer’s old constituency, falling by 3,364 votes in the north London seat. Following the drubbing, the Green Party leader faced a call to resign from the chair of the Jewish Greens committee, Vivien Lichtenstein, who had previously threatened to quit over the party’s “Zionism is racism” motion passed at its Bristol conference last week. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say While the Green Party leader has ruled out stepping down, political gurus suggest the London councillor’s days in the top job may be numbered. "The result is undoubtedly a blow for Polanski and his attempts to park his electric tanks on Labour’s lawn," George Buchan, founder of GB Insight, told The People's Channel. "Over the past few months, both of the apparent 'disruptor' parties, the Greens and Reform, have had some of their lacquer knocked off by various events. "Both leaders have faced challenges; both have faced by-elections - Farage won his; Polanski did not. Zack Polansk is facing his toughest period as Green Party leader after defeat in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election | GETTY "The result comes at a difficult time for the Green Party - Labour is rising in the polls, and the passing of the motion at their conference labelling 'Zionism as racism' has caused quite a stir both in and out of the party. "This period will be Polanski’s most challenging as leader to date," he predicted. Mr Buchan said the defeat would likely prompt some soul-searching on the Green Party's election strategy. "Failure to win an inner-city generally left-leaning seat will also lead to some questions about their election strategy. Especially in a constituency home to many demographics who we know tend to vote Green, such as young students," he said. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Zack Polanski told to resign after humiliating Holborn & St Pancras defeat Zack Polanski's Green Party referred to EHRC over Zionism motion as ex-leader considers quitting WATCH IN FULL: Sagal Abdi-Wali's victory speech after defeating Zack Polanski Mr Polanski lost to Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali by 3,364 votes in the north London seat | PA Electoral Calculus CEO Martin Baxter told The People’s Channel the result was a "striking" one for Mr Polanski’s party. "Back in April our numbers had the Greens ahead in the seat in a general election scenario, so the change in the picture is striking," he told GB News. "Since Andy Burnham took over, Labour has climbed in the polls every month, unifying left-of-centre voters from the Greens and Lib Dems while the right remains fragmented. "Ultimately, this is what Labour brought Andy Burnham in to do. He is bringing the left back together and pushing Reform down," Mr Baxter explained. Luke Tryll, UK Director of More in Common, added: "There's likely a long way to go until the next election, but the Battle for the Left has shifted and - unless Polanski can build back his momentum - Labour now have the upper hand. "The challenge for the Greens, which this result confirms, is to define themselves in a post-Starmer era. "The challenge for Labour is to maintain that newfound enthusiasm among the progressive left, particularly in the face of difficult decisions on North Sea drilling and in the October Budget." Elsewhere, the picture was similarly disappointing for the Green Party, which suffered a series of bruising defeats in local council by-elections. 'This period will be Polanski’s most challenging as leader to date,' pollster George Buchan predicted | PA Lambeth — Myatt's Fields Labour has held Myatt’s Fields in Lambeth, defeating the Greens by 211 votes in a contest that saw the party increase its share of the vote despite a Green minority administration running the borough. Labour’s Molly Hartill won 1,026 votes, 46.7 per cent of the total, up 10.3 per cent. Green candidate Sonia Winifred finished second with 815 votes, or 37.1 per cent—down two points. Ms Winifred, a former Labour cabinet member for equalities and culture, defected to the Greens after being suspended for refusing to vote against a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. “So proud to be elected as the @LambethLabour Cllr for Myatt’s Fields,” Ms Hartill said, celebrating her victory. “It’s been a local campaign focused on local issues and hope. I’m so excited to represent Myatt’s on Lambeth Council and carry on the work of our brilliant late colleague, Annie.” The result leaves the Greens as the largest group on the 63-seat council, with 28 councillors, ahead of Labour on 26 and the Liberal Democrats on nine. However, the party remains short of an overall majority. It will disappoint the Greens, who topped the poll in Myatt’s Fields in May but couldn't hold off Labour this time. The Greens failed to win any of the by-elections they contested on Thursday | GETTY Aberdeen City — Midstocket and Rosemount The SNP has held Midstocket/Rosemount in Aberdeen, with Jeff Diack defeating the Conservatives in a closely fought by-election that could have threatened the council’s governing administration. Mr Diack, a former radio presenter who now works as a funeral celebrant, secured 861 first-preference votes, or 27.9 per cent. Conservative Freddie John finished second with 743 votes, while Labour’s Willie Young took 535. The Greens’ Lauren Bird finished fifth with 330 votes, or 10.7 per cent, narrowly ahead of Reform UK’s John McLeod on 323. Mr Diack said he was “hugely elated” to have been elected, adding: “What a busy few weeks it’s been, and I’m so happy to have got to the end of this process and come out on top.” He also paid tribute to the late SNP councillor Bill Cormie, whose death in August triggered the contest after 19 years representing the ward. “Bill has left truly enormous boots to fill; he was a true community champion, and he is sorely missed,” Mr Diack said. “Even if you didn’t vote for me, I promise that nobody will work harder than me for the residents of this ward.” Labour had a strong showing in the contests across the country | PA Newcastle-under-Lyme — Town Labour has won the Town ward by-election in Newcastle-under-Lyme, taking the seat from Reform UK, while the Green candidate finished third. Firefighter Andrew Fox-Hewitt secured 431 votes, or 46.2 per cent, giving Labour a 182-vote majority over Reform’s Adam Griffiths, who polled 249 votes. Green candidate Mark Jones finished third with 115 votes, or 12.3 per cent, just five votes ahead of Conservative candidate Conna Eynon on 110. The contest followed Reform councillor Christine Duffy's resignation in August. Mr Fox-Hewitt, a former Bradwell councillor, campaigned on town centre safety, parking and housing, and criticised the Reform administration’s rollback of environmental commitments. The victory increases Labour’s representation on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to three seats, but does not change the overall balance of power. Reform retains control with 26 of the authority’s 44 seats, while the Conservatives hold 15. Rupert Lowe was accused of costing Reform UK in Amber Valley | PA Amber Valley - Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley However, Mr Polanski managed to avoid complete humiliation after the Greens snatched a council ward in Amber Valley from the Conservatives. Support for the Greens jumped from 25.4 per cent to 29.5 per cent, putting the party narrowly ahead of Reform UK. Reform UK, which had not contested the ward before, ended up securing 27 per cent of the vote. While the Tories were hoping to hold the seat, Conservative support dropped from 32.1 per cent to 16.9 per cent. Labour also dropped from 22 per cent to 15.9 per cent. But Restore Britain's inclusion helped save Mr Polanski, with Rupert Lowe's party eating up 10.8 per cent of the vote. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter